Customer Reviews

In Performance 1970-74 - Live Box Set

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29 September 1973, it's early afternoon and we are westbound on the Bay Bridge heading into San Francisco and Winterland. Big concert tonight at Post & Steiner; "Mott The Hoople". My main-Mott-man, Larry breaks the news before we are outta the tunnel. "Mick Ralphs, has left the band that he formed, and some Bender-Gender Dude is in on guitar." From my first listen of that 1st album, in all it's green-lizard glory, Mick Ralphs had been one of my: "Guitar Gods". Like Pete, Duane or Pagey, Mr. Mick Ralphs was really something special and although he is never mentioned for the greatness of his playing, a few of us KNEW the truth.

Well, Larry had snagged a fifth of 151 Rum, from an Oakland liquor store. On a side street a few blocks from the arena, we polished that bottle of rum off in memory of Mick. Several hours later, I came back from the dead, outta a black-out, inside Winterland, right in the middle of Bachman,Turner Overdrive. I was a sorry sight when I came to, and during: "Blue Collar" & "Thank You For The Feelin", I got cleaned-up in the nasty Winterland mens room.

Well, Mott did play, Bender tried to duplicate Micks leads, and the new guitarist seemed to be more drunk than I was! Ian screamed; "Let me introduce you to Ariel Bender", and he launched into a frenzied solo, full of feedback & sounds that he didn't seem to want to make. Bender got a goofy look on his face, and then proceeded to destroy his Les Paul. Overend laughed, Ian screamed again, the new piano guy smoked and grinned at this scene like he was watchin' TV. A roadie found Bender another guitar, and more perverse sounds were heard for many more minutes before the band broke into: "Walkin' With A Mountian". There was no Mick, there was no Verden behind his organ that night at Winterland. In my drunken state I could see three Benders up there, and looking back he could see FIVE of me. For all of you that weren't there that night, this is called: "Rock 'N Roll!"

From August 1969 thro to November 1974, Mott The Hoople attacked stages around The globe with the sonic fury of their legendary live shows. There are 4 CD's in this box that are the document of those years.

CD ONE: Fairfield Halls, Sept 1970. Early MTH in all their glory, with "Ohio" as the opener and "You Really Got Me" as the closer, this is young and hungry Mott The Hoople in their prime. This is a massive sonic assault on your brain. This sound IS the combination of the organ and guitars playing at a very high volume. It is a thick & heavy sound that blows other bands of the day {1970}, off the stage, and when you put Ian Hunter on top of all this screamin' and spittin' out the words, you have something here that is really different. There is no 12 bar-blues in this Music {As was the style of 90% of all other groups of the day}. MTH was more akin to Billy Fury or Little Richard. This was: "The New 1958 Rock 'N Roll Show."

CD One also contains a 1971 Stockholm, Sweden Show with a fantastic rendition of: "Long Red" by Mountian. Ian's take on Sonny Bono is here as well {"Laugh At Me"} and the mighty & majestic, Mick Ralphs showstopper: "Thunderback Ram." Disc One is 73:44 Minutes in length.

DISC TWO: This is The Tower Theater Show from Philadelphia, 29 Nov 1972. This was the tour that is documented in Ian Hunter's great book: "Diary Of A Rock 'N Roll Star". This was the tour that was launced to promote; "All the Young Dudes" and David Bowie is on stage for "Dudes" and also introduces the Band. This was a radio broadcast as well,and this is a good sounding multi-track recording. Mott The Hoople after 3 long years was being played on AM Radio Stations. But this album, and the Tours that followed all but destroyed The Group. Verden Allen walked away in Jan 1973 and Mick Ralphs played his last show in August of that same year. Disc Two is 75:46 Minutes in length.

CD's THREE & FOUR: These are the: "Live Heaven" discs spanning concerts from 1971 thro to 1974. This is a best of MTH live from many different locations during those 4 years. Crunchy versions of "Whiskey Woman" and "Drivin' Sister" share the limelight with a rare live: "Angel Of Eigth Avenue" and Ariel Bender's: "Here Comes The Queen" that are not on other Live CD's. These last two CD's are almost a complete history of Mott The Hoople by themselves. And as a bonus, there is a "Wild & Rude Mix" of: "Death May Be Your Santa Claus" and three Demos: 'The Ballad Of Billy Joe", "The Rebel" and "It Would Be A Pleasure". Disc three is: 58:50 Minutes in length and Disc four is: 73:15 Minutes.

This would most easy be a five-star box set, if it contained some un-released live Mott The Hoople. But as all four of these CD's have already been brought forth already, I have taken One Star away because of that fact. But, it is the most complete box of live music that concerns this fantastic band, that you are going to come across. A great 48 page booklet is included to put into words what this band was really about on stage.

So, Tough on you, Joe Elliot! I DID see Mott The Hoople play live, not once but, TWICE !!!
Four Stars !!!

Mott The Hoople: In Performance 1969-74-Live is limited to 2,000 copies only and referred to simply as Limited Edition Box on it's Angel Air label's website. The 4 CD set is made up of the contents of 3 previously released Live collections (containing 5 CDs total as originally released) minus 2 tracks. For further information on the quality of the recordings themselves the reader can read multiple reviews for each individual CD set here on Amazon.

CD 1 has recently been issued as Fairfield Halls, Live 1970 (2007)
When this was recorded on Sep 12, 1970 Mott The Hoople were touring with label-mates Free and they were recording for a live album. The label decided to record Mott at the same time as increased costs would be minimal. Out of the recordings only Keep A Knockin' was originally released (on the Wildlife LP). As a bonus, the version of Keep A Knockin' here is different- either from a later or earlier performance that same night. The set also includes Neil Young's Ohio, which the band never recorded in the studio, the song thus never being issued officially during the band's lifetime.

Ohio
No Wheels To Ride
Rock 'n' Roll Queen
Thunderbuck Ram
When My Mind's Gone
Keep a-Knockin'
You Really Got Me

The original CD had 5 bonus tracks pulled from a concert on the next CD set that In Performance 1969-74-Live draws from. For some reason Angel Air only lists 4 as being included on In Performance. The tracks were recorded in Stockholm, Sweden on Feb 16, 1971 for airplay:

Long Red
The Original Mixed Up Kid
(Walkin' With a Mountain - not listed as being included here)
Laugh At Me
Thunderbuck Ram
(Keep A Knockin' - not included here or on the Fairfield Halls CD)

CD 2 consists of the second CD of the 2 CD set All The Way From Stockholm To Philadelphia - Live 71/72 (1998) AKA A Tale of Two Cities (2000). The original release consisted of two shows originally recorded for radio although the quality is not quite what one would expect on the air today.

The first disc was the complete Feb 16, 1971 Stockholm concert just itemized above including the two tracks in parenthesis not included in this collection. The second disc included here was recorded at the Tower Theatre in Philadelphia, PA on Nov 29, 1972. The recording quality is that of a high quality bootleg but not quite as good as the Stockholm performance. Still, Bad Company fans who favor long extended jams may prefer Mick Ralphs' 12:49 guitar jammin' Ready For Love to the more concise version on his later band's first LP.

David Bowie introduces this concert and sings with Hunter on All The Young Dudes.

Introduction/ Theme From The Planets Op.32: Jupiter
Jerkin' Crocus
Sucker
Hymn For The Dudes
Ready For Love
Sweet Jane
Sea Diver
Sweet Angeline
One Of The Boys
Midnight Lady
All The Young Dudes (w/Bowie)
Honky Tonk Women

CDs 3 and 4 are the 2CD set Two Miles From Live Heaven (2004)

CD 3
Jun 1971 - The first 5 tracks are from the Jun 1971 Fillmore West concert but for some reason in reverse order from that played. Recently 4 of the 5 tracks have been cleaned up a bit, the between song dialogue with the crowd left in and released on Live Fillmore West, San Francisco. For some reason No Wheels To Ride was not included in that reissue and one has to wonder if there might be a few more tracks in the can from that concert. One would guess that No Wheels To Ride was played after the other 4 if things follow true to form. . .
1. No Wheels To Ride
2. Whisky Woman
3. Walkin With A Mountain
/Jumpin Jack Flash
/Satisfaction
4. It'll Be Me
5. Angel Of Eighth Avenue

Sep 13, 1973 - These 4 tracks are probably from TV, maybe the Midnight Special? This could be Ariel Bender (AKA Luther Grosvenor)'s first gig with the band.
6. Drivin Sister
7. All The Young Dudes
8. All The Way From Memphis
9. Sweet Angeline

Bonus- 4 demos from the 69-71 period.
10. Death May Be Your Santa Claus (wild and rude mix) a rough mix before the `rude bits' were removed for Brain Capers.
11. The Ballad Of Billy Joe (demo) a Feb-Apr 1970 demo w/ Ian "la-la-ing" the lyrics
12. If Your Heart Lay With The Rebel (demo) This demo is actually by Silence, Mott The Hoople's pre-Hunter incarnation. Mick Ralphs handles the vocals with Guy Stevens producing in May 1969.
13. It Would Be A Pleasure (demo) Feb 15, 1970, again with Ralphs on vocals

CD 4
Live at the Santa Monica Civic Center Apr 13, 1974.
This concert was originally an FM radio broadcast, has great sound and is dazzling rock `n' roll!
1. American Pie
2. The Golden Age Of Rock n Roll
3. Sucker
4. Roll Away The Stone
/Sweet Jane
5. Rest In Peace
6. Here Comes The Queen
7. One Of The Boys
8. Born Late 58
9. Hymn For The Dudes
10.Marionette
11. Drivin Sister
/Crash Street Kids
/Violence
12. All The Way From Memphis
13. All The Young Dudes

After listening to this I found the recording quality as very poor and hard to understand why it was released.Have been a Mott fan since my teens but this is not good. Mott The Hoople live LTd Edeition is a much better option .

Being a Hoople fan since first i saw them in Aylesbury way back when....i continue to wait for a 'live set' that really does them justice. Truthfully, i gotta say, none of these do...poor sound quality and editing.
The best 'live feel' album from 'the island years' remains Brain Capers, no ifs, ands or buts - kudos to Guy Stevens!
My recommendation - go buy the 2006 remaster of that....but avoid this like the plague.